Christ the King North Rocks Newsletter

2019, Term 2 Week 6 : Friday 7th June 2019

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents,

I thought I would leave this Sunday’s Pentecost reflection to a favourite scriptural scholar of mine, Fr Michael Fallon.

‘The Spirit of the Lord holds all things together’. Whatever ugliness there is in our world, it is on the surface. The real power and the real energy and the real life that is pulsing through the universe is the power and energy of love: the love of God’s Holy Spirit. Today’s feast reminds us that the Spirit of God’s love is forever with us. Our task is to lift the blind and open the curtains and welcome God’s presence in our lives. Hence the response to this Sunday’s Psalm: ‘Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth’. The second theme of this coming Sunday’s Mass is that God wills to renew the face of the earth through us. In our opening prayer we prayed that the Spirit would ‘continue to work in the world through the hearts of all who believe’. We are disciples of Jesus and look at the love which he released in this world! So that he could continue to do it through us, he sent his own Spirit on the apostles [at Pentecost] in the form of tongues of fire, and we pray coming Sunday ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love’.


Our Athletics carnival was held today Barton Park Parramatta. A great community day was conducted with our four CTK sports houses competing in a variety of field and track events as well as series of activities facilitated by SISA who have been working each week with the children throughout semester one, for the CTK Athletics Shield. The carnival also served as a selection trial for the upcoming Hills Zone Athletics carnival in early term 3. Thank you to our parents who attended the carnival as spectators or who took on various official roles throughout the day. A special thanks to our teachers who worked closely with Mr Debrincat who organised and facilitated a great day where many PBs were achieved. Well done and thank you to all who contributed to the success of the carnival.


Thank you to all our parents who prepare their children’s uniforms each day. Our students look great and take pride in wearing their uniforms. Several students however are not in the correct winter uniform as specified in the 2019 parent handbook. Boys are to ensure they are wearing a tie with their long sleeve shirt. It is also a requirement that black leather school shoes are worn with both the boys and girls school uniforms. Joggers and sports socks above the ankle [no ankle socks] are only permitted on the days that students wear their sports uniforms.  Your co-operation and assistance in these matter will be greatly appreciated.


The TTFM [Tell Them From Me]  Parent School Survey is currently open and will close Friday week at the COB on Friday 14th June.  I encourage all parents to complete the survey on your electronic device by using the URL : www.tellthemfromme.com/2019ctknr

Your feedback is crucial in evaluating the management of our school and the education of your children.  The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Please take the time to complete this anonymous survey. Thank you.


Just a reminder that our next Staff Development Day will be held on Monday 17th June Week 8. The day will have a literacy focus where by staff will be visiting schools observing best practice in regards to literacy blocks and our whole school language development. There will be no classes on this day. Our CTK COHSC will be available on the day to supervise children whose parents require child care. Details regarding the booking process will go out through COHSC tomorrow. 

Enjoy a restful and safe weekend.

Cheers

Tony Hughes

Principal


Upcoming Events

Term 2 (Week 7)

Monday 10th June

  • QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY 

Tuesday 11th June

  • Literacy Club 8am
  • Uniform Shop (8am - 12:30pm)
  • PE: Year 3, Year 2, Year 4 (Group1)
  • Drama Club (Years 3&4) at lunchtime

Wednesday 12th June

  • Maths Olympiad Team session 8am
  • PE: Year 6, Kindergarten
  • Stage 3 Girls Soccer Gala Day Penrith
  • Drama Club (Years 1&2) at lunchtime
  • Chess (3 - 4pm)
  • Sacrament of Confirmation Parent Information Night

Thursday 13th June

  • PE: Year 5, Year 1, Year 4 (Group 2)
  • Year 4 Reconciliation
  • Drama Club (Yrs 5&6) at lunchtime
  • "Chatterbox Parent Forum St Andrews Marayong 7pm

Friday 14th June

  • Band (7:45 am) and groups throughout the day
  • Debating 'v' St Paul's 9.30am
  • Year 4 at Mass
  • CTK Playgroup 10am-11.30am
  • NSWCPS Cross Country Eastern Creek
  • Assembly presented by Year 3 @ 2.15pm - Parents Welcome

Term 2, (Week 8)

Monday 17th June

  • STAFF DEVELOPMENT / PUPIL FREE DAY - FOCUS ON LITERACY

Tuesday 18th June

  • Literacy Club 8am
  • Uniform Shop (8am - 12:30pm)
  • PE: Year 3, Year 2, Year 4 (Group1)
  • Drama Club (Years 3&4) at lunchtime

Wednesday 19th June

  • Maths Olympiad Team session 8am
  • Stage 3 Boys Soccer Gala Day - Penrith
  • PE: Year 6, Kindergarten
  • Drama Club (Years 1&2) at lunchtime
  • Chess (3 - 4pm)
  • Holy Communion Practice Evening

Thursday 20th June

  • PE: Year 5, Year 1, Year 4 (Group 2)
  • Year 5 Reconciliation
  • Drama Club (Yrs 5&6) at lunchtime

Friday 21st June 

  • Band (7:45 am) and groups throughout the day
  • Semester 1 Reports going home today
  • Year 5 at Mass
  • CTK Playgroup 10am-11.30am
  • Assembly presented by Kindergarten @ 2.15pm - Parents Welcome

Advanced Notice: Mark in your diary

Monday 10th June

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Wednesday 12th June

Sacrament of Confirmation Parent information Night

Monday 17th June

STAFF DEVELOPMENT / PUPIL FREE DAY

Wednesday 19th June

St 3 Boys Soccer Gala day

Holy Communion Practice evening 

June 22nd/June 23rd

First Holy Communion ceremonies

Friday 5th July

Family Fun Day followed by Picnic lunch

Last day of Term 2

TERM 3

Monday 22nd July

School begins

Thursday 25th July

Kindergarten excursion : Calmsley Hill City Farm

Year 2 excursion : Powerhouse Museum

Friday 2nd August

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

Tuesday 13th August

WAKAKIRRI HEAT AT NIDA

Friday 30th August

Father's Day celebrations at CTK

Friday 13th September

STAFF DEVELOPMENT / PUPIL FREE DAY

Friday 27th September

Last day Term 3

TERM 4

Thursday 12th December

Christmas Concert

Wednesday 18th December

Year 6 End of Year Function (Parent/Student Dinner)

Thursday 19th December

STAFF DEVELOPMENT / PUPIL FREE DAY

Friday 20th December

STAFF DEVELOPMENT / PUPIL FREE DAY

Important Announcement

Our newsletter format has changed

Our CTK Newsletter format has changed. The newsletter will contain the IMPORTANT Principal's Address which contains information vital to the running of the school, and, this fortnight's events. The remainder of the newsletter will be a portal to our webpage. All stories and administration information will be linked directly to the website. 

The Skoolbag App is where you will be kept up-to-date on the day to day running of the school. It is essential that parents have the app and read all notifications as they appear.

Hard copies of the newsletter will no longer be available.

Approved Community News items will now be sent as Skoolbag notifications and will have an expiry date.

Parish News

Parish Office Information, Parish Mass Times, Reconciliation and Rosary

PARISH OFFICE RELOCATION

The Parish office has been relocated to the right hand side of the presbytery.

It has a separate entrance with doorbell for easy access.

Please note the Parish office hours are Mondays - Fridays 9am - 4pm.

Our current contact details are phone: 9871 8710 and email: northrocks@parracatholic.org

Weekend Masses

Saturday         6.00pm

Sunday            8.00am and 10.00am

Weekday Masses

Tuesday          7.30pm

Wednesday    9.00am

Thursday        9.00am

Friday              9.15am

Reconciliation

Saturday        9.30am and 4.30pm

Rosary

Saturday        8.30am

CTK Catechists

4 years ago I joined the CTK Catechists, undertaking to share my Catholic faith and the promises of Jesus Christ with children, much like my own grandchildren, who attend public schools.

Why did I do it?   In today’s parlance, I am just "paying it forward". In honour of my parents, clergy, teachers and the faithful adults in my life who shared their faith and lived it.

What do I do?   For 30 minutes each week, I speak to children about God, tell of the promises of Jesus Christ, His love, gentleness, compassion, infinite mercy,  capacity for friendship and that in His humanity He suffered humiliation, pain, betrayal.   He died and rose from the dead. He offers eternal life. He offers the world hope and peace.

More men and women of faith are needed to "pay it forward". Each of us are here today because at sometime in our lives, someone, or many "someones" , helped us to learn about God and his generosity.  By giving 30 minutes of your time you become a "someone" in a young person's life.

The books and the materials needed to do this work are provided. Here at CTK Catechists, we are part of the community of Catechists who are always willing to share ideas and materials accumulated over years of teaching, and who are always willing to step in when needed. It may surprise you that we have Catechists who have been that “someone” for 5 to 40+ years

At the end of the day, each of us does the best we can do. I ask myself if 30 minutes each week really makes a difference. It is very human to be discouraged when you plant a seed and don't see the green shoots emerge, but if you don't plant that seed there is no chance at all that anything will ever grow.  You are needed to plant those seeds and become a someone in a young person’s life. For more information contact

Terri Hirshhorn on 0407 294 332 or Jim Kinsella on 0417 431 709

Other School News

Parent Survey - Tell Them From Me

Dear Parents / Carers,

We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning Survey. We value the role of parents and carers within our school community. We would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at Christ the King North Rocks.

They survery is opened and closes on Friday 14th June 2019. (end of week 7)

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:

www.tellthemfromme.com/2019ctknr

Thank you in anticipation of your completion of this survey.

Tony Hughes


LIBRARY NEWS

Premier's Reading Challenge 2019

The PRC runs till August and is an excellent opportunity for your children to read for pleasure and succeed. The Holy Faith Library has a huge collection of PRC books on the challenge, please encourage your child to participate. 

Subscriptions

Every student at CTK as a login to Mathletics and reading eggs. These are excellent game based learning tools that can help supplement your child's learning at school. Ask your child to show what they can do!

Sarah CookTeacher Librarian LTST

WriteOn 2019 Writing Competition

To participate in the competition, students compose an imaginative text of up to 500 words in length using the image above (eight different hats on display stands) as a stimulus. Once you are happy with your writing submit it to Miss Venice Boules by placing it in your office bag or emailing it to vboules@parra.catholic.edu.au.Three entries will be chosen (one from each stage) and submitted. 

Year 4 Excursion to Botany Bay

On Wednesday the 22nd of May, the students from Year Four travelled to Kamay Botany Bay, National Park Kurnell as part of our History Project, “First Contacts”.

Click here for photos and information.

School Student Leaders Report

A Word from the CTK School Captains- Young Leaders Forum afternoon tea

Emma M and Henry A

Last Wednesday, the CTK Student Leaders went to State Parliament for the Young Leaders Forum and afternoon tea. During the afternoon we met a number leaders gathered by the state member for Hills Mr David Elliot. These role models included our State Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, Hills State member David Elliott, and leaders from the NSW Police, Emergency Services and the Royal Fire Departments.

Students and school leaders form several school within Mr Elliot’s electorate also attended the forum. 

Click here for our Leaders article


FARMER FRIDAY 14th June 2019.

CTK will be having Farmer Friday on the 14th June. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the affects of draught in Australia. Students are invited to come to school dressed as a farmer. Please do not buy anything for the day but simply use any clothes or items you already have at home. 

Christ the King Participates in Parramatta Eisteddfod Second update.

Parramatta Eisteddfod – second update…

Over the past 2 weeks, I have continued to be impressed by the efforts and achievements of our children from CTK at, ‘The City of Parramatta Eisteddfod'.

Click here for more information

CTK PLAYGROUP

When: Fridays 10:00am - 11.30am (Term time only)

Where: CTK Hall, Statham Avenue North Rocks

Who: For children aged 0-5 and their carers

What: Play, socialise, create friendships

Come every week or come when you can

 

To register your interest in coming along or for further information

Contact :  ctkplaygroup@gmail.com

 

School Notes

Parent Volunteers at CTK - CEDP Volunteer Form

Parent Volunteers at CTK should visit the Parent Involvement page and complete the ‘Volunteer Form’ to be able to assist in any capacity as a volunteer within the school.

Parent Volunteers at CTK - Child Protection Training Module

Parent Volunteers at CTK should visit the Parent Involvement page and complete the ‘Child Protection Training Module’ to be able to assist in any capacity as a volunteer within the school.

Application for Extended Leave (other than sick leave)

Click on title, go to Administration, print and complete the ‘Application for Extended Leave’ form to apply for student leave for more than 2 days within term time.

School Term Dates

Click on title to view Term Dates

Uniform Shop

Click on title to print and complete Uniform Shop order form and to view opening hours